Solution feeding device



May 27, 1941.

A. N. MUNN 2,243,258

SOLUTION FEEDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1959 5 -s i Z6 ZZ Z Z5 J L .2

24 50 i5/ 27i Z6 f 23' 4 if. g3 2 35 @4k 45 Ny 37 4Z 4647 38 39 19mm-N To@ ALFRED N. MUA/N Mm (94% Arme/V516 Patented May 27, 1941 .Unirse staresl PATENT oFFicE 2,243,258 soLUrioN FEEDING DEVICE Alfred N. Munn, Huntington Park, Calif. Application February 14, 1939, Serial No. 256,393

e Claims. y (ci. 21o-39) This invention relates generally to the treat- Yment of liquids with various solutions either in circulating and Water dispensing systems, such as plumbing installations, or relatively static liquid systems, such as water reservoirs.

An object of the invention is to provide a device structurally characterized by a simple, dependable and positively acting means which,

in its association with the plumbing system of a building, as an example, automatically sup-l plies a rust preventing or other beneicial solution in predetermined quantities to the system over a relatively long period of time, all Without requiring any intermediate servicing or attention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which embodies a sight feed for the solution so that the operation can be observed at any time.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which gravity iiow of solution into the water being treated is eiected in an airfree circuit, including a solution receptacle from which the solution gravitates into and is displaced by water from the system, all in such manner as to insure positive treatmentJ of the water with a predetermined amount of the solution.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means by which the supply of solution can be replenished with the utmost ease and dispatch in a manner positively preventing the entrance oi' air to interfere with the automatic flow of solution into the water system in the normal operation of the device, and without incurring loss of any solution remaining in the displacement water in the receptacle.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view showing partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, one form of solution feeding device embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a solution receptacle Ill in the form of a cylindrical container which can be rigidly supported Yfrom a water supply pipe II by clamping straps l2 and I3, or in any other suitable manner.

Connected to the receptacle IE! at the top portion thereof is the horizontal branch I4 of a conduit I5 also including a vertical branch I3 connected to the horizontal branch by a T fitting I-I provided with a drain plug I8.

The vertical branch I 3 is provided with a valve I9 and extends freely through an axial passage 2B in a head 2l of a separate chamber 22 defined by the head 2l, a flange 23, and a transparent tube 24, the ends of which are sealed against ring gaskets 25 and 26 by bolts 2l and nuts 28 connectingthe head and flange.

TheA vertical branch I6 is secured to the head 2l co-axially of its passage 20 by a gland nut 29; and the head is provided with a lateral inlet passage 30 communicating withthe passage 20 and having connected thereto a second conduit 3l communicating with the receptacle I0 at the bottom portion thereof and provided with a valve 32.

The lower end of the vertical branch I is screwed into the bore 33 of the body of a valve 34, and one end of the body is screwed into the flange 23, so that the bore functions as a part of the conduit I5.

The other end of the bore 33 has screwed thereinto a nozzle 35 having a metering discharge orice 36 placing the conduit I5 in communication with the water supply pipe II through the medium of a feed chamber 3l and a pipe 3B having a valve 39 and connected to the Water supply pipe by a T iitting 4.

The feed chamber 3l is formed by a flange 4I, a head 42 and a transparent tube 43, the ends of which are sealed against ring gaskets 44 and 45 by bolts 46 and nuts 41 connecting the ilange and head. The other end of the body of the valve 34 is screwed into the flange 4I so as to secure the valve thereto; and the head 132 is provided With a iilling plug 48 and with a lateral outlet passage 49 to which the pipe 38 is connected so that the latterA co-acts with the passage 49 and with the feed chamber 37 to place the discharge orice 3B of the conduit l5 in communication with the liquid line deiined by the water supply pipe II.

That portion of the conduit I5 which extends through the separating chamber is provided with ports 50 and with a baiiie member or separator 5I inthe form of a bell shaped hood xed on the conduit, with the lower marginal edge of the separator disposed at the same level asthe lowermost portion of the ports 5B for a purpose to be described in the operation of the invention, which is as follows: y

The operation of supplying the receptacle I 0 with a solution which is heavier than water and is for example of a nature to prevent rust and corrosion in the piping of the plumbing system consists of first removing the drain plug I8 and opening all valves I9, 32, 34 and 39, a suitable temporary hose connection being made to the T fitting I1 for the hose (not shown) to discharge into a suitable vessel. All air will now be expelled from every space in the device by Water under pressure from the supply pipe II entering the device through the pipe 38. It is to be understood that the nozzle 35 has not as yet been applied to the device, as the nozzlewould interfere With the free flow of water in filling and testing the device, and is thus removed each time the device is to be charged withi solution.

As soon as Water flows from the vhose connected to the T iitting I7, the valve 39is closed and the plug I8 replaced. The valve 39 can now beopened for a test to determine pressure tightnessof all connections, following which the valve 39 is again closed.

The plug I3 is again removed and replaced by the drain hose, and the plug 48 is removed and a ller hose (not shown) connected to the head 42 in `place vof the plug.

With the valve I9 closed, a quantity of the solution, preferably about two-thirds of the capacity of the receptacle I0, is forced through the filler hose by a suitable hand pump or other means (not shown) and enters the bottom of the receptacle vso as to force the Water `above from the receptacle through the branch I4 and the drain hose. By measuring the water discharged from the drain hose, the exact amount of solution supplied to the receptacle is determined.

The valve 34 is now closed, the iiller and drain hoses disconnected, and the plug I8, nozzle 35, and plug 48 replaced, after which all closed valves are opened. y

As the solution supplied to the receptacle Il! has a greater specific gravity than water, the solution will flow by gravity from the receptacle through the pipe 3l, passages 30 and 20 into the separating chamber 22, `and will pass underneath the separator 5I .so as toenter the conduit I5 through the ports 50 and iinally discharge in a slow ilne stream from the orifice 38 of thenozzle 35. It will be noted that the bottom of the bore of the nozzle 35 is flat which tends to prevent foreign particles from `clogging the orifice 36.

As the .stream of solution enters the feed chamber 31 to a point'near the bottom of same, the solution is mixedwith water in the pipe 38 and finally carried through the system by water flowing in the supply pipe Il, all as shown by the vfull line arrows in Figure 1.

Concurrently with this feeding of the solution, the stream of solution discharging yfrom thenozzle 35 is surroundediby water counterflowing from the supply pipe and upwardly through the conduit I5 into the top of the receptacle to displace solution as discharged from the bottom thereof, all as indicatedby the broken line arrows -in Figure l. A relatively small'amount of solution is carried along -by this displacement water tothe top of the 'receptaclegbut settles to the bottom thereof so that the water is always on top of the 'heavier solution.

By the provision of the separator 5I, water flowing `upwardly in the conduit I5 is prevented from entering the chamber 22 and flowing into the lbottom of thereceptacle as the location of vor faucet in the system.

the separator relative to the ports 50 enables the heavier incoming solution in the chamber 22 to act as a barrier to the counterflowing Water. Furthermore, it will be noted that the water flowing upwardly around the stream of solution discharging from the nozzle 35 acts to dislodge any foreign particles Which may accumulate on the flat bottom inside the nozzle, so as to insure that the orifice 36 will be maintained open.

The feed of solution is automatically proportioned to the iiow of Water in the water pipe II, by utilizing the pressure drop in the system which naturally occurs upon opening any valve It is to be understood that .the `size of the orifice 3B is calculated to feed a predetermined amount of solution for the average volume of Water used in a certain time.

When a pressure drop occurs in the system outside of the nozzle 35, there is a temporary unbalanced pressure condition which manifests itself by an increased feed of the solution from the nozzle to mix with the water iiowing into the system. Immediately upon the restoration of the-balance of pressure, the amount of solution discharged from the receptacle is replaced with water flowing thereinto as indicated Aby the broken line arrows.

When the invention is to be used for the feeding of a solution to an open tank or reservoir, a pipe (not shown) is substituted for the pipe 38 and attached'to the inlet pipe of the tank or reservoir. In such an installation, the solution is fed by gravity alone.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system of the class described, a liquid line, a receptacle adapted to contain a solution the specific gravity of which is greater than that of the liquid rwith which it is to be mixed; means connected to the liquid line through which solution in the receptacle flows from the bottom portion -thereof by ygravity to mix with liquid in said line; means co-actable with the iirst means .to enable liquid from the line to enter ythe top portion of the receptacle by displacing rection of solution flow through the first means from the bottom portion of the container; and means co-actable with the last means to prevent counterflowing liquid from entering the receptacle fromxthe bottom portion thereof.

2. In a system of the class described, a liquid line, a receptacle adapted to contain a solution the specific gravity of which is greater than that of the liquid with which it is to be mixed; a feed chamber connected to the liquid line; a conduit.v communicating iwith the upper portion of the receptacle and havinga solution discharge orifice opening to the feed. chamber; a separating chamber; meansplacing said conduit 4in communication with :the separating chamber; and a second conduit connecting the bottom portion of the receptacle with the separating chamber for the gravity flow of solution thereto from the bottom portion of the receptacle, and through the last means into the first said conduit so as to be discharged from said oriiiceinto the feed chamber and thence into the liquid line.

3. In a system of the class described, a liq. uid line,.a receptacle adapted to contain a solution the specic gravity of which is greater than that-of the liquid with whichit is to be mixed;

a feed chamber connected to the liquid line; a conduit communicating with the upper portion of the receptacle and having a solution discharge orice opening to the feed chamber; a separating chamber; means placing said conduit in communication with the separating chamber; a second conduit connecting the bottom portion of the receptacle with the separating chamber for the gravity flow of solution thereto from the bottom portion of the receptacle, and through the last means int-o the rst said conduit so as to be discharged from said orifice into the feed chamber and thence into the liquid line; and

vmeans by which liquid from the line counterflowing through the rst said conduit to displace solution discharging from the receptacle is prevented from entering the latter through the second said conduit.

4. In a system of the class described, a liquid line, a receptacle adapted to contain a solution ythe specific gravity of which is greater than that of the liquid with which it is to be mixed; a feed chamber connected to the liquid line; a conduit communicating with the upper portion of the receptacle and having a solution discharge orice opening to the feed chamber; a separating chamber through which said conduit extends, with the conduit having a port opening to the separating chamber; and a second conduit connecting the bottom portion of the receptacle With the separating chamber for the gravity now of solution thereto from the bottom portion of the receptacle, and through said port into the rst said conduit so as to be discharged from said orifice into .the feed chamber and thence into the liquid line.

5. In a system of the class described, a liquid line, a receptacle adapted to contain a solution the specic gravity of which is greater than that of the liquid with which it is to be mixed; a feed chamber connected to the liquid line; a conduit communicating with the upper portion of the receptacle and having a solution discharge orifice opening to the feed chamber; a separating chamber through which said conduit extends, With the conduit having a port opening to the separating chamber; a second conduit connecting the bottom portion of the receptacle With the separating chamber for the gravity flow of solution thereto from the bottom portion of the receptacle, and through said port into the first said conduit so as to be discharged from said orifice into the feed chamber and thence into the liquid line; and a baie member mounted on the first conduit in a position to co-act with the port thereof in preventing counterowing liquid entering the bottom portions of the receptacle from the rst conduit through the port thereof.

6. In a system of the class described, a liquid line, a receptacle adapted to contain a solution the specic gravity of which is greater than that of the liquid With which it is to be mixed; a conduit communicating with the upper portion of the receptacle V'and having a-n orifice in communication With the liquid line; means defining a chamber in communication with the bottom portion of the receptacle, and through which a ported portion of said conduit extends for the gravity now of solution from the bottom portion of the receptacle into the liquid line through the port, conduit and orifice, as liquid from the line counterflows through the conduit into the top portion of the receptacle to displace the discharged solution; and means in said chamber coactable with the port of the conduit, in preventing counterflowing liquid from entering the bottom portion of the receptacle via the port and chamber.

Y ALFRED N, MUNN, 

